CONDUCTION OF HEAT BY MEANS OF METALLIC COATING SUPPLYING MATERIAL

The invention relates to a method for reduction of reducible metallurgical material, such as material containing chromium and iron, e.g. chromite ore, and especially for prereduction with solid reducing agents, e.g. with carbonaceous reducing agents, whereby finely distributed material, reducing agent and any fluxing agent or other ingredients are formed into agglomerated units. The agglomerated units are coated with a layer of material which contains at least 50% by weight metallic material, preferably essentially pure metallic material (such as ferrochromium) and the coated agglomerates are then dried and heated in order to effect the required reduction. The heating can take place in process gases which include 50% or more of CO2, air, or a mixture thereof, and this content can amount to 75% of these process gases.